Soul Seducer (24 page)

“He’s not leaving.” Dimitri’s tone was smug. “He’s worried about her. He’ll probably come in another way. Take you by surprise.”

Gaylen’s eyes darted around the room.

“You need to get out while you can,” Dimitri said. “You have a good half hour before you’ll be back to reaper form.”

“Shut up,” Gaylen growled.

Dimitri went on, “You’re human. He’s human. He has a gun. Do the math, asshole. What’s it gonna be?”

Chapter 19

Gaylen glared down at Audra. He lowered his head and drew in a long pull of her breath. “One for the road.” He closed his eyes, relishing for a moment, then opened them. “I wasn’t delivered what you promised. We’re not finished.”

“I did as you asked.”

“I didn’t get satisfaction. Trust me, this is far from over.” He reached out and gripped her neck, pulling her to him, placing a firm kiss on her lips. She nearly choked on the bile that rose to her throat. “Tell me a way out of here where Super Cop won’t see me.”

Audra tugged loose from him. “Out the back door in the kitchen. Hurry.”

He gave her a hard look. “You owe me. Don’t forget it,” he said before disappearing through the kitchen door.

Shane had gone silent. If he were worried someone was in here with her, holding her against her will, he’d be figuring out a way for a furtive entrance. And he’d see a coil of copper on the couch. And ask questions.

She hurried over to Dimitri. “Before I let Shane in, I’ll get this off you,” she said as she unwound the copper.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. His voice was steel. “You sure you want to do that? You might want to keep me bound. For your own safety.”

She paused and looked into his eyes. Sparks of fury shot from them. “For God’s sake. I had to do it. There’s no time to discuss it now.”

She finished uncoiling the copper and shoved it under the couch. Ignoring Dimitri’s glare, she went to the front door, but before she reached it, she heard Shane’s voice behind her. “Audra? What’s going on?”

She whirled. “How did you get in?”

“I came in through a window. I was afraid someone was in here with you. Making you say those things.” He looked around the room. “You’re alone? Everything’s okay?”

Dimitri stood up from the couch, crossed his arms, and glowered at her. She shifted her eyes away from him. “Everything’s fine. Thanks for being concerned, but that was a bit of an overreaction.”

“Your voice sounded strained, like you were in distress. Sorry if I worry about you.”

He sounded offended, hurt. She was two for two tonight. Super.

She tried not to look at Dimitri as she spoke. It was odd having this conversation in front of him, her being the only one aware he was in the room. “I’m sorry, Shane. I didn’t mean it like it sounded. I was...I was getting sick in the bathroom, and I was embarrassed and felt like shit.”

His features softened into concern. “Are you all right now? Can I get you anything?”

She smiled. “I’m fine. Just a stomach bug.”

“Get rid of him,” Dimitri bit out. “You and I need to talk.”

Screw you
, she wanted to say, but Shane would think she was talking to him.

“Okay, then. I’m on duty so I better take off. Just wanted to stop by and make sure you’re doing okay. Things have been a little rough on you lately.”

Her heart constricted. He was such a good man. Why couldn’t he give her the rush of euphoria Dimitri did?

“Thanks for caring,” she said.

He stepped closer and lifted a hand, brushing his knuckle down her cheek. “Always have, always will.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and headed to the door. “Call if you need anything.”

“I will. Thanks.”

“Sure.” He smiled, but she detected sadness in it. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

She held his gaze for a moment. He was asking an unspoken question. Would they ever more forward, or was this all there would be between them?

She shot a quick look at Dimitri. In spite of how insane the very idea was, Shane didn’t inspire the same response, the same thrill Dimitri did. A man who wasn’t alive himself made her feel more alive than she ever had in her life.

“Right,” she answered softly. “That’s what friends are for.”

Shane nodded, then he was gone.

She turned to Dimitri. An enraged Dimitri. He swooped toward her, halting inches in front of her, breathing heavily, his eyes shooting cobalt sparks. “What in God’s name were you thinking?”

“I just wanted to make him stop.”

“You thought that would do it, huh? You thought opening yourself to him, sacrificing yourself to him, would do the trick? You’re out of your mind. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants. Now that he’s had a taste of you, he’ll be even harder to control.”

“He wasn’t going to kill me. He swore.”

“Even if he meant that, saying it is one thing, actually stopping himself is entirely another. The only thing Gaylen wants more than to reap you is to taste your breath. You were taking a big chance that he would kill you. Suck the very life from you. He’s done it before.”

“Done what?”

“Years back, he was tasting a woman’s breath...he couldn’t stop. He killed her.”

She hugged herself tightly. “I’m sorry. I was trying to help.”

“You risked your life. Right in front of my eyes.”

“I’m sorry,” she said again.

“Do you have any idea? Any idea what that would have done to me to watch you die?”

“No.” She could barely speak. He was so close...again...doing that tingly thing that made her struggle for breath. “What would it do? And why would it be so hard, Dimitri? You watch people die all the time.”

He clenched his jaw, not speaking as his gaze roamed over her face. Finally, he said, “I can’t watch Gaylen kill someone right in front of me again. Anyone. Can’t watch him win.”

“Oh,” she said, hoping her disappointment didn’t show. Had she actually been expecting some kind of declaration of how special she was to him? How much he loved her? Just because Gaylen told her he did, that didn’t make it so.

“Promise you’ll never do it again,” he demanded.

“I promise.”

Her words seemed to only mildly placate him. “I’m not sure I can trust you. You tricked me. Betrayed me.”

She thought of what Gaylen had said. About that day in the cabin all those years ago. Anger heated her blood. “You’re one to talk. About betrayal.”

“What do you mean?”

“He told me you were there. When my mother died. A little detail you left out when I was unburdening myself to you.”

His face paled and he stepped back. “He told you.”

“Did you take her?”

“No.”

“I don’t know if I believe you.”

“Gaylen took her. He was going to take you, too, but I arrived in time to stop him. Not in time to save your mother.”

Dimitri had saved her? Gaylen had killed her mother? Her legs turned to rubber. He and Gaylen had been intertwined in her life all these years. A much bigger part of it...of her destiny, than she could ever have imagined.

“What about his wife? What about the way you took her away from him, then let her die?”

Dimitri flinched. “He’s right about that. I’ve done a lot of things in my past I’m not proud of.”

“I guess we both made mistakes.”

“
Your
mistake almost got you killed. Don’t let it happen again.”

~*~

Audra barely paid attention to the call Kyle took at the nurse’s station. She was about to head down to check on a patient, when his voice stopped her. “Audra. That was the ER. They said you might want to come down.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Maria Bellafonte was brought in. She’s asking for you.”

Dread settled in the pit of her stomach. “Is she okay?”

“It doesn’t sound like it. You might want to hurry.”

The emergency room was three floors down. Audra didn’t bother with the elevator. She ran to the stairwell and down the flights of stairs.

She burst into the emergency room hallway and ran to the desk. The receptionist looked up at her. “Room three” she said when she recognized Audra. “I’ll buzz you in.”

Audra burst through the doors leading to the ER ward and into room three. She gasped when she saw Maria. There was barely a place on her face that wasn’t covered in bruises. A white bandage enveloped her dark hair, and a ventilator made a whooshing noise that meant it was breathing for her. Jaxon stood next to the bed. He looked up when Audra entered, then walked over to intercept her in the doorway.

He kept his voice low. “We’ve done all we can for her. We’re waiting for a room, but it’s not likely she’ll be using it.”

Audra’s panicked gaze flew to his face. “No,” she whispered. “She can’t...”

“The damage was too severe. He beat the holy hell out of her. Now all we can do is try to lessen the pain. She wanted to see you.”

Audra nodded and made her feet take her to Maria’s bedside.

Maria’s eyes fluttered open. Audra thought she tried to smile, but in the battered, nearly unrecognizable face, it was difficult to tell.

“Hi. I’m here. It’s me, Audra.”

“I know,” Maria croaked. “He got me good this time.”

“What happened?”

“Told him everything I said to police. That I’d testify against him.”

“Maria? Why did you do that?”

“Guilt. Couldn’t live with it anymore.”

“Guilt? Why? You did nothing wrong.”

She was silent for a moment. “I’m dying,” she said softly.

“No. You’ll be okay,” Audra could barely get the lie out, but she had to, for Maria’s sake, For her to have a modicum of peace in her last hours...maybe minutes.

“I know I deserve to die. But I’m still scared.”

“What do you mean deserve to die? It’s not your fault.”

She coughed, squeezing her eyes shut briefly, then looked back up at Audra. “It is. I knew. I helped.”

“Don’t try to talk.”

“Have to. You have to know. That night they hurt you, I helped. I asked you to meet me so they could get to you. I didn’t want to, but Scott was so...so forceful. I didn’t know how to tell him no.”

Shock rendered Audra speechless for a moment, but she tried to cover it. The woman was dying. She wouldn’t hurl condemnation at her.

“You’re disgusted,” Maria said. “Don’t blame you. See? I deserve to die.”

“No. No, you don’t. You made a mistake. I forgive you.”

“Don’t…deserve your forgiveness. Just wanted…you to…know. It wasn’t Joel’s fault. He’s a…good boy. Scott made him do those…things.”

“Okay. It’s okay now. Everything will be fine.”

“No, I can feel it. Please make sure he doesn’t…get…my babies. Please.”

“You’re not going to—”

Maria reached out with surprising strength and gripped Audra’s hand. “Promise me,” she hissed.

“Yes. All right. I promise. Just hang in there, you’re going to—”

Maria gasped, her eyes rolling back in her head.

A strange man materialized in the room. He was tall with thin brown hair and a stooped posture. He didn’t look at Audra. Instead, his solemn gaze was fixed on Maria. Audra’s heart sped up in panic. She knew why he was here.

Maria’s grip on Audra’s hand tightened, then fell away completely.

~*~

Three days after Maria’s death, Audra took Sadie to dance practice. Riley had Court and Audra had been happy to volunteer for the errand. She needed to do normal things, needed to be with Sadie. Maria’s funeral had been tough, especially seeing the three little girls sob over their mother. Shane was there. He promised he wouldn’t stop looking until they found Scott. Audra hoped they found him dead.

She smiled as she watched Sadie through the glass window. The heart medications had been working, she was starting to look and act like her normal, healthy self. Her chubby little tummy poked out of the tight leotard. She stumbled and went down on her rump, then rose immediately, a beaming smile on her face. Audra laughed, affection swelling in her heart. What the child lacked in coordination, she more than made up for in enthusiasm.

Suddenly, a tingle moved over Audra’s skin and her pulse rate sped up. Dimitri was here. He hadn’t spoken to her since the copper incident. But he was here now.

She turned to find him leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the hallway.

She gave him a bright smile, but refrained from speaking. A few other spectators were watching their children, and they’d surely notice. He cocked his head, and she followed him down the hallway, into an alcove.

“I’m glad you came,” she whispered. She almost said,
I’ve missed you
. But that would be too much of an admission.

He didn’t respond and she noticed his expression for the first time. He was frowning, his mouth drawn into a tight line. He wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“What happened?”

“Nothing’s happened.” Unspoken was the word ‘yet.’

“But something is going to happen.”

He looked past her, toward the room where the children were practicing.

“You’re here to reap someone? Not one of those children. You can’t do that.”

His eyes misted over, and in that moment, she knew. Panic raced through her heart. “No. Not Sadie. You can’t.”